The party membership of former ministers and parliamentarians including SLFP General Secretary and Minister Maithreepala Sirisena has been suspended.

SLFP senior spokesman told our news team the unanimous decision to suspend the defected party members was taken when the SLFP all Ceylon steering committee met yesterday.

Accordingly, former SLFP members and ministers Maithreepala Sirisena, Rajitha Senarathna, Duminda Dissanayake, Navin Dissanayake and MP Wasantha Senanayake and Deputy Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardana have been suspended from their party membership.

In addition, North Central Provincial Councilor Peshala Jayarathna, Tamankaduwa PS Chairman and another PS member have also been suspended from their party membership.

The spokesman also said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was named as the party presidential candidate during the SLFP all Ceylon steering committee meeting yesterday.

The meeting has also endorsed the appointment of Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa as the new General Secretary of SLFP.

Meanwhile Lanka Samasamaja Party General Secretary Minister Tissa Vitharana told our news team that the party membership of 6 central working committee members have been suspended after they decided to support common candidate Maithreepala Sirisena.